Musical Fidelity A308 CR User manual

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 1of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
A308 CR
DUAL MONO PREAMPLIFIER
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
Thank you for purchasing the Musical Fidelity
A308 CR remote control preamplifier.
Used properly and carefully, it should give you many
years of outstanding musical reproduction.
Æsthetically, the A308 CR Preamplifier is a perfect match for the
A308 CR power amplifier and A308 CR CD player.
Together, they form one of the finest hi-fi systems available today.
Dust regularly with a soft duster or soft brush but be
careful when using cleaning or polishing agents - they may
harm the surface finish.
If you have any questions about your audio system,
please consult your dealer who is there to help and advise.

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 2of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
SAFETY INFORMATION
IMPORTANT! (U.K. only)
This unit is supplied in the U.K. with a mains lead fitted with a moulded 13 amp plug.
If, for any reason, you need to cut off this plug, please remove the fuse holder and dispose of
the plug safely, out of reach of children. It must not be plugged into a mains outlet.
The wires in the mains lead supplied with this appliance are coloured in accordance
with the following code:
Green and yellow..............Earth
Blue...............................Neutral
Brown................................Live
WARNING - This appliance must be earthed
As the colours of the wires of the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the
coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows:
The wire which is coloured green-and-yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug
which is marked with the letter E or coloured green or green-and-yellow, or by the earth
symbol:
The wire which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the
letter L or coloured red.
The wire which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal which is marked with the
letter N or coloured black.
If connecting to a BS1363 plug, a 13 amp fuse must be used.
WARNING:
Any modifications to this product not expressly approved by Musical Fidelity who
is the party responsible for standards compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equipment.

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 3of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
GENERAL ADVICE
INSTALLATION PRECAUTIONS and USER INFORMATION
Your new A308 CR Pre-amplifier is designed and built to provide trouble-free performance, but
as with all electronic devices it is necessary to observe a few precautions:
Heed all warnings shown on the back of the product.
Only connect the A308 CR Pre-amplifier to a mains outlet having the same voltage as marked
at the back of the unit.
Always ensure that when disconnecting and reconnecting your audio equipment the mains
supply is switched off.
Position the mains lead and signal interconnects where they are not likely to be walked on or
trapped by items placed on them.
Do not use near water, or place water-filled containers on the pre-amplifier, for example,
flower vases or potted plants. If water does spill inside, immediately pull out the mains plug
from the wall socket and inform your dealer, who should then check the unit before further
use. Entry of liquid into the pre-amplifier is dangerous, and may cause electric shock or fire
hazard.
Do not place the unit near heat sources such as radiators, direct sunlight or other equipment.
The case of this amplifier can run at high temperatures - operate the unit in a well ventilated
area, and do not touch the side heatsink fins after periods of use at high output power.
Do not remove covers or try to gain access to the inside. There are no internal user adjust-
ments. Refer all service work to an authorised Musical Fidelity agent.
NOTE: Unauthorised opening of the equipment will invalidate any warranty claims.
There are fuses inside the A308 CR Pre-amplifier. In the unlikely event that one blows, refer the
unit to your audio dealer. Do NOT try to replace the fuse yourself as this will invalidate the
warranty.
Dust regularly with a soft duster or soft brush, but be careful when using cleaning or polishing
agents - they may harm the surface finish.
The electronics in modern hi-fi equipment is complex and may, therefore, be adversely affected
or damaged by lightning. For protection of your audio system during electrical storms, remove
the mains plugs and disconnect any aerial lead.
If after-sales service is required, to help your dealer identify the A308 CR Pre, please quote the
serial number located on the rear panel of the unit.
RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE (R.F.I)
This product has been tested to ensure that its operation is not adversely affected by normal
background levels of R.F.I., and that it does not itself generate excessive amounts of interfer-
ence. However, if a problem persists, please contact your Musical Fidelity agent.

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 4of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
CONNECTIONS AND FACILITIES
MUSICAL FIDELITY
A308 DUAL MONO PREAMPLIFIER
C R
MANUFACTURED IN ENGLAND BY MUSICAL FIDELITY
POWER
CONSUMPTION
20W
THIS APPLIANCE
MUST BE
EARTHED
IMPORTANT
50/60Hz
CAUTION
MOUNT UNIT ON SOLID SURFACE.
DO NOT REMOVE SCREWS OR COVERS
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
NO USER SERVICEABLE COMPONENTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED ENGINEER.
SEE OWNERS MANUAL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
CC
MM MC
RIGHT OUTPUT LEFT OUTPUT
PHONO CD TUNER AUX 1 AUX 2 TAPE TAPE REC
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Front panel layout
1Power on indicator LED (blue)
2POWER on/off switch
3TAPE input select button and LED
4Mute LED
5CD input select button and LED
6PHONO input select button and LED
7TUNER input select button and LED
8AUXILIARY 1 input select button
and LED
9Volume control knob and LEDs
10 AUXILIARY 2 input select button
and LED
11 Infra-Red Receiver
12 TAPE MONITOR button and LED
Back panel layout
13 RIGHT output
14 Phono MM/MC selection switch
15 Phono earth connection
16 PHONO input
17 CD input
18 TUNER input
19 AUXILIARY 1 input
20 AUXILIARY 2 input
21 TAPE input
22 TAPE RECORD output
23 LEFT output
24 IEC mains inlet
1234 910 11 12
5 6 7 8

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 5of 9
REMOTE CONTROL
REMOTE CONTROL
The blue buttons on the remote control enable main functions of the preamplifier to be operated
from a convenient distance. Remaining buttons on this universal handset are for use with other
Musical Fidelity products, and have no effect on the A308 CR Pre-amplifier.
Equivalent buttons on the remote handset have the same functions as the those on the front
panel of the unit. Some operations are only available via the handset.
As the remote control uses an invisible infra-red light beam, the transmitter must be pointed
directly towards the receiver window on the front of the pre-amplifier, without visual obstruc-
tion between them.
Pressing the volume-up or -down buttons on the remote handset will advance the motorised
volume control in the required direction.
Pressing the MUTE button mutes the audio output sockets, but has no effect on the TAPE OUT
sockets for recording. To show that the pre-amplifier is muted, the red LED on the front panel
will light. Press the MUTE button again to cancel this function, and the red LED will go off.
If the range of the remote control greatly decreases, replace the batteries with new ones.
Do not mix old and new batteries - two are required, type SUM-4, AAA or LR03.
Issue 3: July 2002
VOLUME (UP)
VOLUME (DOWN)
MUTE button
TUNER input select
PHONO pickup
input select
AUXILIARY 1
input select
CD input select
TAPE input select
AUXILIARY 2
input select

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 6of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
CONNECTIONS
All input and output connections should be
made with the mains power switched OFF.
INPUT CONNECTIONS
The A308 CR Pre-amplifier has one pair of
phono inputs, which can be used either for
moving magnet (MM) or moving coil
(MC) pickups.
The phono input sensitivity requirement
can be changed from MM to MC by press-
ing the push-button switch located on the
rear panel.
Important - Do not operate the MM/MC
switch with the volume control turned up.
Some turntable/pickup arm combinations
are fitted with an extra wire for chassis
earthing. This should be connected to the
earth terminal on the back panel.
The A308 CR Pre also has five “line level”
inputs which are electrically identical, and
therefore suitable for use with any source
component having an output of at least
300mV.
The sockets on the rear panel are marked
CD, TUNER, AUXILIARY 1, AUXIL-
IARY 2, and TAPE, to correspond with
function buttons on the front panel.
Connect the left and right outputs from
your CD player, tuner, tape deck or phono/
record deck to the appropriate RCA input
sockets on the back panel.
For the best results we recommend using
either Musical Fidelity X-LINX "no-non-
sense" cables for this connection or the
highly rated Nu-Vista leads with integral
RFI suppression. Various lengths are
available in the Nu-Vista interconnect
range. Please contact your local dealer for
more information.
PRE-AMPLIFIER OUTPUT
The A308 CR Pre has a pair of audio out-
puts from RCA sockets on the back panel,
which are controlled by the volume adjust-
ment.
TAPE RECORDER CONNECTION
The A308 CR Pre has a single tape circuit
with facilities for off-tape monitoring with
3-head tape decks (see page 7).
Connection of your tape recorder to the
A308 CR Pre should be as follows:
The tape deck's left and right line outputs
are routed to the pre-amplifier's TAPE
(input) sockets, and the tape deck's line
inputs are connected to the A308 CR's
TAPE RECORD (output) sockets.
BEFORE SWITCHING ON . . . . .
Plug the accessory IEC mains lead into the
rear panel socket, then the other end into a
convenient wall outlet.
Turn the volume control on the front panel
to minimum (anticlockwise).

STARTING . . . .
Press the power button on the A308 Pre-
amplifier - the blue LED on the front panel
will light indicating that the unit is ready
for use. However, for about five seconds
no sound will be heard from your speakers,
and the red mute LED will light to confirm
initial mute action.
Unless using your pre-amplifier for off-tape
monitoring (see paragraph opposite )
ensure that the TAPE MONITOR button
has not been pressed accidently, as other-
wise no sound will be heard through the
speakers.
Select the required audio input source by
pressing an appropriate function button on
the front panel or the remote control, and
adjust the volume control to obtain the pre-
ferred sound level.
TAPE RECORDING
To record, simply select the required source
with the input selector button on the front
panel. This source will now be routed to
the A308 CR Pre’s TAPE RECORD output
sockets for recording by the external tape
deck.
You will also be able to hear the selected
source through the loudspeakers.
Note - adjustment of the volume control has
no effect on the recording level.
A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 7of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
OPERATION
OFF TAPE MONITORING
In conjunction with a 3-head cassette deck,
off-tape monitoring allows the user to com-
pare the recorded sound with the original
whilst a recording is being made. To do
this, first select the required source in the
normal way and start recording. The
TAPE MONITOR button on the front
panel can now be used to switch between
the source sound and its recorded version.
The red LED just above the tape monitor
button indicates that the tape monitor func-
tion is operating.
Note that the recorded sound is selected
when this LED is lit. On some 3-head tape
decks there is an additional 'tape/source'
switch which must be in the 'tape' position
for the above arrangement to work.
If in doubt, please refer to your tape deck
operating manual.

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 8of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
PROBLEMS ?
Basic problem solving with a pre-amplifier is similar to troubleshooting any other electrical or
electronic equipment. Always check the most obvious possible causes first. To give you a few
ideas of what to look for, check the following:
If none of these actions effect a cure, please contact your dealer, or an authorised Musical
Fidelity service agent. Remember, never open the case of the A308 CR pre-amplifier yourself,
as this will invalidate the guarantee.
Problem Possible Cause Remedy
No power when MAINS Mains plug not inserted Plug in securely
POWER switch is operated fully into the rear socket
No sound Tape monitor function has Cancel tape monitor
been selected (see page 7) function by pressing the
MONITOR button again
Mute function is selected Press mute button on the
remote control
Wrong connections between Check audio lead inter-
the A308 CR Pre and ampli- connections between the
fier pre-amplifier and amplifier
Remote control unit does POWER switch is set to OFF Press POWER button
not operate Batteries not inserted in remote Insert batteries
control unit
Batteries are flat Replace batteries - do not
mix old and new ones
Range of remote control has Batteries are running out Replace batteries - do not
greatly reduced mix old and new ones

A308 CR Pre Instructions for Use Page 9of 9
Issue 3: July 2002
Musical Fidelity reserves the right to make improvements which may result in specification or feature changes without notice.
A308 CR
Dual Mono Preamplifier
Output: Voltage RMS, maximum > 30 Volts
Power, maximum > 5 Watts
Peak-to-peak output current 0.5 Amps
Impedance 50 Ohms
Frequency response 20Hz to 20kHz ±0dB
10Hz to 100kHz +0, -1.5dB,
Line inputs:
Total harmonic distortion + noise, 20Hz to 20kHz > 0.0035% (5 Volts output, maximum volume)
Signal / noise reference 1 Volt RMS output 104dB (“A”-weighted, at half volume)
Input sensitivity for 1 Volt RMS output 240mV
Input impedance 47k Ohms
Gain at maximum volume 12.5dB (4.2 times)
Overload margin 31dB
Channel separation > 88dB typical at 1kHz, maximum volume
Phono input:
Frequency response reference
IEC RIAA - see graph ....
Signal / noise ref. 1Volt RMS output > 95dB Moving Magnet (“A”-weighted, at half volume)
> 85dB Moving Coil (“A”-weighted, at half volume)
Input sensitivity for 1 Volt RMS output 2.5mV Moving Magnet,
350µV Moving Coil
Input impedance 47k Ohms
Overload margin 31dB
Inputs: 5 pairs line level via RCA connectors
1 pair phono MM / MC switchable via RCA connectors
Outputs: 1 pair RCA connectors main output controlled by volume
1 pair RCA connectors tape record line level output
Power requirements: 100 / 115 / 230V AC 50 / 60Hz (factory preset)
20 watts maximum
Weight: 20 kg, 44.2 lbs unit only, un-boxed Dimensions: 440mm, 17.3 inches wide
23 kg, 50.8 lbs in shipping carton 143mm, 5.6 inches high including feet
410mm, 16.1 inches deep including terminals
Standard accessories: IEC type mains lead
Remote control handset (universal type)
2 batteries (AAA, MN2400, LR03)
SPECIFICATIONS :
RIAA RESPONSE
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
16 32 63 125 250 500 1.2K 2.5K 5K 10K 20K
FREQUENCY
dB
RIAA
A308
RIAA/IEC